GORE LANDS ANOTHER UNION; BRADLEY TARGETS IOWA STUDENTS

Vice President Al Gore picked up the endorsement of a federal government workers union, and Bill Bradley went trolling for the votes of students Tuesday in a modest flurry of campaigning before both men left the state to stump for a day in New Hampshire.

The moves reflected the strength of Gore's organization and the importance of his backing of organized labor, as well as the potential for Bradley to attract new voters to the Iowa caucuses, something critical to his fortunes there.

Gore was endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, another trophy to add to a wall of institutional support that he has built in the state. He traveled with Iowa's only Democrat in the U.S. House, Rep. Leonard Boswell, who told voters of Gore's unflinching commitment to Iowa concerns.

In addressing union members and in an earlier appearance at Simpson College in Indianola, Gore stuck to his standard speech, one that ends with him pleading for support in Monday's caucuses.

Gore, who wore a dark suit and tie at Simpson College, had changed into his khakis and black, long-sleeve polo shirt in time for the union endorsement held in the VFW Hall in Knoxville. He criticized Republicans, singling out Texas Gov. George W. Bush, as anti-labor.

"I want to fight for you," he said, "but I need you to fight for me."

Bradley, speaking to a packed school auditorium, was making a different kind of plea, asking people new to the political process to make the effort to participate.

"You can still make this happen," Bradley said at Iowa City's West High School. "If you support me, I'll love you. If you don't support me, I'll still love you. But if you did support me, I'd love you a little bit more."

In a news conference, the former senator again addressed the subject of race, saying he does not favor quotas, but "I am for affirmative action." He said he would use the bully pulpit of the presidency and the official legal arm of the Justice Department to pursue affirmative action goals.

Bradley also tried to downplay his prospects in Monday's caucuses: "I didn't say anything about winning in Iowa. I always want a coach who goes into every game to win.

"We do have a lot of enthusiasm among people," he added. "The real question is can we reach out to enough to get them to come to the caucuses? And that remains to be seen."

He seemed to win over one convert in Amber Massa, a 17-year-old senior who will be eligible to vote Monday. "I thought he did a really good job of answering the questions," she said. "Before today, I was leaning toward supporting Gore. Now I am going to have to think about it again."

Bradley spoke Tuesday afternoon at a child-care center in Cedar Rapids, emphasizing his proposal to dramatically expand Operation Head Start and to fund scholarships for teachers who want to work in underserved rural and urban areas.

On the wall of a classroom at Jane Boyd Community House, supporters displayed a poster reading "We believe in Bill Bradley" with the handprints of children painted on it. After speaking, Bradley posed for pictures with preschool children.

"To me, Head Start is going to be the solution," said Luther Trent, 83, an African-American community leader who came out to hear Bradley. "We've got to support the children, and Bradley will do that."